Photo by Rosie. |
Habou's gift was a hit… maybe most of all with Rosie! She really wanted this toy for Pippo! |
I thought you might like to see the stockings… which also made me happy (in a less permanent way, of course than Pippo, but still… ). Finally the tops are done, the nametags are on, and I even figured out how to hang them from our marble mantel without eleven of those hanging brackets booby-trapped just so to fling the delicate contents of everyone's stocking onto the floor, dragging the mantel ornaments along with them. Instead, I used only two of them, duct-taped to the mantel (and the tape concealed by the antlers — yes, they are real antlers found in the woods by the boys), with a pear branch (cleverly not burned by me) across. And, after much brain-wracking, I found shower-curtain rings at Lowe's that don't clash terribly, after striking out in the hardware section. S-rings are just not big enough or not thin enough.
Photo by Rosie. |
Finally I am happy with my stockings!
But, oh, this darling! What a treat to have him here!
emily b says
So sweet! It must be wonderful to have everyone home (or about to come home?) for Christmas! I LOVE the branch fix for the stockings. It's perfect up there! Blessings, emily b
Sonja says
Oh, I love so much that small children take their work of playing so very seriously! Pippo's face looks so focused and rapt – you can almost see the synapses forming in his brain. (And that toy is VERY cool – I sort of want it for myself! Good thing I'm having another baby…)
I adore your stockings and I love the solution you found for hanging them. I (finally) made stockings this year, too, but we don't even have a mantle, so I'm still trouble-shooting the hanging part. Ahhh, I have time, right?! 🙂
Anitra says
We don't have a mantle, but we do have some high shelves in our living room. So… I end up hanging our stockings sort-of-behind the TV. Ah well! When I was growing up, we would all bring our stockings to the grandparents' house, and they would end up scattered around the living room – one or two on the banister, two from the mantel, a few on the back of chairs…. It doesn't really matter! The fun is opening them up all together. 🙂
nt12many says
Love it! Leila, does having a darling fast-growing grandson add to that panicky feeling of life flying by? Maybe you don't have the panicky feeling like I do…like just seems to be going so fast and I don't even have a long-distance toddler grandson!
I love the rub-a-dub dub ornament. It looks like the little German wooden ones of my childhood. May the Lord give you a joyous, peaceful Christmas. Blessings to everyone from the Pacific Northwest!
Jill Farris ” target=”_blank”>http://www.generationalwomanhood.wordpress.com
_Leila says
Jill — I think that somehow, mysteriously, the grandson makes things better in the time department. Hang in there! Greetings to all of you as well!
Wild Optimist says
Hi Leila,
Your “pretty” picture is breathtakingly so- thank you! I enjoyed seeing what Christmas looks like at your house- could almost hear the buzz of the relatives visiting, the fun the baby adds. I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas! And thank you for the gift you have given me in seeing my own in a new way:)
Joy says
What a precious boy! I can understand why you are glad to have him there. The three men in a tub ornament is fabulous. Thank you for sharing your family and house and wisdom with us. Merry Christmas to you all.
kelley chavez says
Great idea on how to hand the stockings! They look great. I think thats sweet that your waiting for everyone to put on the star. I hope your beautiful family has a Merry Christmas!
Dawn says
Fantastic! Merry Christmas! I love the pictures.
Blessings,
Dawn
Colleen says
You should post the stocking photo on pinterest! It would be all over the boards in minutes.
Haus Frau says
Great stocking idea! And I LOVE the Moravian star next to your lamp. My husband's grandfather had one in their house…wish we knew what happened to it.
Merry Christmas, and thank you so much for the ideas/inspiration you all give all year long.
Dorathea says
Oh, is the Moravian star from the settlers of Zinzendorf's Herrnhut?
Traci says
Love your pictures! Thanks for inviting us! Merry Christmas!
Mary says
Oooh, I just LOVE the branch and shower clip idea!! We don't have a fireplace (maybe someday!) and the railing for the stairs is hidden. I wonder if I could pull something like that off on a wall in here…you have me thinking now…this is dangerous 😉
Amy says
Merry Christmas! I love your “funny” picture – baby joy is so contagious!
priest's wife says
I love the branch idea- and the stockings are great! Did you use a pattern? Are they lined?
Thank you for writing my favorite blog!
merry Christmas and a happy new year (will there be weddings in 2012?)
justamouse says
How did Pippo like that awesome car you got him?
I'm another that loves the branch idea, and laughing that it took you so long to get stockings together. Now I know why I'm having such problems with them and am being patient with myself on my own Stocking Expectations. 🙂
PNG says
Love the pics of Christmas at your house! Can Rosie come and show me things about my camera?:). Enjoy these days with all your family…Merry Christmas!
EML says
Love the hanger for the stockings! Merry Christmas!!
Emily says
Merry Christmas!!!
Lisa G. says
I'm glad you've got your little fellow for a while. 🙂 All your [pretty]s are so pretty! The candle in the first picture caught my eye. And what a very clever way to hang your stockings – good job, well done!
Jeanine says
Is it possible to get a link for the stacking toy? Thanks!
Melanie says
Wow! Those pretty pictures are amazing! Congratulations on the stockings, they are really awesome. I love the branch to hang them.
Patty says
(1) At first read, I thought you wrote “nativity-SNACKing child,” which also probably fits his age. LOL.
(2) I kind of hate that stacking toy. Or at least the one we have in our church nursery. There are certain one that I can NEVER pry apart and of course, that is the toy my kids want to play with!
(3) I LOVE the branch and stockings. That is the coolest thing EVER.
BethanneB says
“Waiting for everyone to be here…to put the star on top'–isn't that the best blessing when everyone is together? God bless you all!
Mary says
I LOVE the stocking! Job well done Leila!! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! Enjoy the house full of love!!
AHeartLikeMarys says
beautiful pictures and such a cute little boy!
Lisa says
So pretty! check out dreamywhites.blogspot.com , the second picture! Great minds….
Merry, merry Christmas!
Lisa says
Duh. There's a new post there, so the second picture is now a bottle of wine LOL!!
Actually i wanted you to see the stockings hung on a stick. Silly me.
_Leila says
Lisa, I did see it! So pretty.
Dorathea says
These pictures are great. My favorites are the long distance shot of the tree (so pretty!) and Pippo smiling away with the bag on his head. And the last one is classic. 🙂 If only my family were not averse to the camera.
I love the way you hung your stockings, too! Rustic and classy…and very very clever. Someday, someday. 🙂
Merry Christmas!
Anne-Marie says
Lovely! Merry Christmas from a new reader (not a {phfr} contributor).
Margo says
love those stockings on the pear branch! So clever and pretty. But it just warms my heart to see that little sweetie boy in the festivities. I love to see grandparents with their grandchildren – nothing like it. So happy you can all be together. Merry Christmas!!
CarlynB says
I'm wishing you the merriest Christmas ever! No time for blogging this week, but I did want to tell you that I have steamed our cranberry pudding as you do your puddings and I really think it has turned out perfectly this time. Of course, the proof is in the eating, so I still have to wait for the ultimate verdict from the rest of the family.
Nee says
Your daughters are stunningly beautiful! I guess they just take after their mom.